Being a first-year medical student is challenging enough. Toss in being a top-flight hockey referee and you can imagine the balancing act facing Dartmouth’s Devin Piccott.

The 23-year-old Dalhousie student is the only Nova Scotia referee to earn an assignment this season from the International Ice Hockey Federation. The youngest referee in Nova Scotia to hold his Level VI certification, he will be in Asiago, Italy, in April for the world men’s under-18 hockey championship.

He began as a referee for minor hockey at the age of 14.

He still played hockey and was drawn to the chance to improve his skating and make some pocket money at the same time.

He played hockey through high school, and briefly at the junior B level, before realizing his future in hockey was as an official.

He progressed steadily through the levels of officiating and began working in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League five years ago. He spent the first two as a linesman before becoming a referee.

“It’s an honour,” he said of his chance to referee in Europe. “It’s very exciting to be able to represent Nova Scotia, Canada and Hockey Canada on the international scene.”

He knew he wanted to remain in hockey as his options as a player began to diminish.

“I loved being on the ice,” he said. “This was a way to stay in the game.”

As one would expect, he’s had to learn time management. He said he developed that skill as an undergraduate student at Acadia, mixing a full load of courses with refereeing, which might take him on the road for a couple nights per week.

He’ll work up to 10 games per month this season, mostly in the QMJHL but some with Hockey Nova Scotia.

“Becoming a great doctor is far more important to me than being a great referee,” he said.

“If there were ever a time when I felt my education was being jeopardized, I would certainly pull back on officiating. However, at the current time, I have struck a pretty good balance and hope to remain on the ice for as long as possible.”